" J.D.s is seen by many to be the catalyst that pushed the queercore scene into existence", writes Amy Spencer in DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture.[2] Writing in the journal C: International Contemporary Art, Earl Miller calls J.D.s "tremendously influential."[3]

After the initial release of the first few issues of J.D.s, the editors wrote a manifesto called "Don't Be Gay" which was featured in Maximum RocknRoll zine. According to Amy Spencer, "The article appeared in February 1989 and simultaneously attacked both punk and gay subcultures..." G.B Jones states, "Our goal, vis-à-vis the punk scene, was to antagonize." Spencer continues, "Following their article, a queer punk culture did begin to emerge."

The editors had initially chosen the appellation "homocore" to describe the movement they began, but later replaced the word 'homo' with 'queer' to create Queercore, to better reflect the diversity of the scene and to disassociate themselves completely from the oppressive confines of the gay and lesbian communities' orthodoxy and agenda.[4] G.B. Jones says, "We were just as eager to provoke the gays and lesbians as we were the punks." According to Bruce LaBruce, J.D.s initially stood for Juvenile Delinquents, but "also encompassed such youth cult icons as James Dean and J. D. Salinger."[5]